Broom



Dec. 14, 19 54 C. F. SMITH BROOM Filed May 7, 1955 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,696,628 Patented Dec. 14, 1954 BROOM Claude F. Smith, Marston, N. C., assignor to Marston Broom-Mop Factory, Marston, N. C.

Application May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,466

3 Claims. (Cl. 15171) This invention relates to the art of cleaning, and more particularly to equipment employed in cleaning, such as a broom commonly known as a stick broom, or one in which broom corn or other straw or fiber is attached to a stick or handle so that it may be used for sweeping.

Brooms previously manufactured have been subject to criticism for several reasons, including the parts not being solidly and permanently united, the inferior quality of the materials employed, the rough exteriors lacking in appeal to the aesthetic and of a nature to cause damage when in contact with furniture, as well as the cost of the article occasioned by the expense of the materials and the labor employed in their production.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the above objections by providing a broom of inexpensive materials which is susceptible of being produced at a rapid rate by machinery requiring minimum attention and thereby involving minimum labor in the production of the article, as Well as a broom of simple, attractive, durable, and permanent construction, which has a smooth exterior that will not mar or scratch furniture and will satisfac torily perform the functions for which it was designed 1 and created.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the handle and fiber portions of a broom in accordance with the present invention immediately prior to assembly;

Fig. 2, a similar view after the parts: have been initially united;

Fig. 3, a further view after the additional flattening step in the process;

Fig. 4, side elevation of a broom after the final step of stitching;

Fig. 5, a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6, a section on the line 66 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7, a fragmentary side elevation of a whisk-broom.

Briefly stated, the broom of the present invention comprises a head having a compact relatively flat bundle of sweeping material such as broom-corn or other straw or fiber having a large flared end and a small compact end, and a stick or handle held together by a connecting tapered sheath or cone containing a mass of cementitious material such as glue or adhesive, such glue or adhesive having been subjected to pressure to remove the air from the joint and to provide intimate contact with the parts joined. A band of elastic, or the like, employed to hold the fiber of the bundle together at one end prior to assembly, is confined about the end of the fiber beneath the cone or sheath, and with the large end of the sheath or cone flattened to provide an area of reduced thickness with an adjacent portion of a greater thickness. Stapling extends through each end of the sheath or cone, the staples at the large end being transversely of the cone, with the contiguous ends of said staple extending through the end portion of the handle as well as the cone to securely fasten the handle, the fiber, and the cone in assembled relation. A staple is placed adjacent the small end of the sheath or cone longitudinally of the handle, and securely fastens together the handle and the sheath. The staples at the large end of the cone are ofsufficient length that they extend all the way through the sheath, the fiber, thepoints exposed on the exterior of the same, mar furniture.

The invention also contemplates a whiskbroom, or smaller size broom, comprising broom corn, a sheath or cone, with a large end flattened in a similar manner, and without a handle, but with a loop by which it is suspended, and with or without the stitching, as desired.

In the production of the broom of the present invention the broom corn or other straw or fiber 10 is bundled together in a compact manner and a heavy rubber band 11 is applied around one end and serves to hold the fiber {)ogether during the early stages of manufacture of the room.

A handle or stick 12 is provided with a tapered or flattened wedge shaped extremity 13 and about the end portion of this stick or handle is applied a relatively tough paper sheath or joint cover14 having the shape of a frustum of a cone. This cone is relatively inexpensive, being a common article in the textile trade on which yarn is wound, and while it may be covered it is attractive without such covering. The small end 15 of the sheath or joint cover is of a size to snugly receive the stick or handle 12 and when it is applied to the handle, the flattened or sharpened end 13 projects slightly beyond the plane of the large end 16 of the sheath 14. This large end is of a size to receive and guide the end of the which might fiber about which the band 11 is disposed into the sheath. In assembling the parts during the manufac ture of the broom, the head of the fiber with the band 11 around the same is dipped into or has applied thereto a solidifiable uniting medium such as heavy glue 17 so that an excess of the glue will be present around and on the end of the bundle of fiber.

Thereafter the large end of the sheath is clamped in a vise and is flattened with the bound end of the fiber therein to provide an area of reduced thickness near said flared end, the length of which is less than the maximum width of the broom and the width of which is substantially less than its length, and the glue is forced into intimate contact with the flattened end of the handle and simultaneously into intimate contact with the fiber and produces an intimate bond between the same and the flattened sheath in which they are housed. The sweeping material at this stage has a small compact end and a through the entire broom along the large flattened end 13 of the paper sheath in order to fasten and maintain the parts in permanent assembled relation. The heads or exposed portions of the staples are snug against the surface of the sheath while the ends of the staple are reversely turned into the broom so that there are no rough edges which will mar furniture. Two relatively wide staples preferably are employed located within the length and breadth of the area of reduced thickness so that the adjacent portion of the sheath of greater thickness will guard the stapling from contact with furniture, and a machine drives these staples into the broom and one contiguous prong of each through the flattened end portion of the handle. The ends of these staples are bent around or reversely turned and driven back into the broom so that there are no rough portions exposed to scratch or mar furniture or hook into fabric or the like. The cone or sheath 14 is attached to the handle 12 by means of a staple 20, which is smaller than the staples 18. Finally, two or more rows of stitches 19 are applied across the fiber in spaced relation to the staples and beyond the end of the joint covering sheath to assist in maintaining the fiber in proper position and to add reinforcement during sweeping, whereupon the broom is ready for use.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a broom is provided which is neat and attractive in appearance, and its exterior is smooth so that it will not mar furniture or hook into cloth or the like, in which the parts are united both by adhesive and by being stapled together, and with a wedging effect produced by the flattening of the large end of the connecting cone so that there is no chance of detachment of the broom-corn or the handle. Further, the device is relatively inexpensive, due to the low cost of the materials employed in its manufacture.

It contemplates the use of fiber, plastic or any other material which-may'beused-insweeping-and-issusceptible of being produced by machinery in greater volume than has heretofore been contemplated. It is, however, strong, durable, and will moresatisfactorily perform the Y 111169 tions for which it was produced.

In the manufacture of awhisk broomon broom= of smaller size, broom-corn orother straw'or fiber 10'- are bundled together and a band of elastic or-the-like, corresponding tobandll is placed around one end portion of the same. Thisend rnay bedipped into glue or other material forproviding'intimate-contact between the parts and such end is inserted-into a-cone or= sheath=14 provided having an enlarged end 16", such end and the fibers therein being flattened and the sides-of the-cone being fastened together by meansof a. staple 1& whichextends through the broom. I

A- hole 15 is-preferablyleft in theesmall end of the cone or sheath and is adapted tohave glue or other binding substance injected under pressure into the cone or sheath to fill the spaces between and unite-the fiber and the interior of the cone; In thi'swaya wedging eflect is employed in the holding; of the=broom-corn or other fiber inthe sheath. lf'desired, the-small end of the cone may be snpplied with a loop 21 by means of which it may be supportedon ahook or other support.

The flattened larger end of the sheath is of reduced thickness. but the flattening provides a wedgedorming bulge adjacent the flattened portion intermediate the ends of the sheath. The exposed stapling throughvthe flattened end of the sheath is substantially flush with the surface of the sheath:and normally is -prevented. from contact with the furniture-by said bulge. Accordingly, a broom is-' provided having a transversely stapled portion ofreduced thickness and with theexterior surface of the broom relatively smooth and devoid of furniture marring projections.

It will be obvious to those skilled inithetart that'various changes may be made inthe invention without departing from the spirit invention is not limited by: that which isshown in. the drawing or described in the specification, but. only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is-clairned is:

1. A broom comprising a relatively flat. bundle of sweeping material having a large flaredZend'and a. small compact end, a tapered' sheath encasing said compact and: scope thereof and therefore this end, said sheath having an exterlorsurface of sufficient V softness to avoid marrmg furnlture, cernentitious-- material in intimate contact with and solidly uniting; the parts in a unitary structure, said' sheath:.having an area of reduced thickness near: saidflared: endwith. an adjacent portion of greater thickness; stapling: within the length and. breadth of said area of. reduced thickness 1 and confined w1thin the maximum dimension of said flattened portionandlconnecting Sflld. sheath and sweep- 4 ing material with the exposed porton of said stapling snug against-thesurfaceof; said sheathso that the adjacent portion of greater thickness guards said stapling from contact with other objects, whereby a broom is provided having a relatively smooth exterior devoid of furniture marring projections.

2. A broom comprising a: relatively flat bundle of sweeping material having a large flared end and a small compact end, a handle: having, a tapered end portion located within said small compact end, a tapered sheath encasing said compact end and: enclosed handle; said sheath having an exterior surface of sufli'centsoftness to avoidmarring furniture,,cementitiousmaterialin intimate contact with and solidly uniting the parts in a unitary structure, said sheath having an. area-,, of reduced thickness near said flared end' with an adjacent portion of greater thickness, stapling within the length and breadth of said area of reduced thickness and confined within thev maximum dimension of said flattened portion: and connecting said sheath-,and sweeping material with the exposed portionof said staplingg snugtagainst the surface of said sheatb so that the" adjacent portion= of greater thickness guards said stapling from contact withother objects, whereby a broom is=provided having a: relatively smooth exterior devoid offurniture marring projections.

3: A broom comprising; arelatively flat bundle of sweeping material havingga large flared end and a small compact end, ahandle located within said small compact end; a tapered sheath-e-ncasing said compact end and said handle; said sheath having an-exterior: surface ofsuflicient softness to avoid marring furniture, said sheath having an area of reduced thick-ness near its large flared end with an adjacent portion of greater thickness, stapling located within the'confines of: the-length andbreadth of said area of reduced thickness and the; maximum dimension of" said flattened portion and connecting said sheath; sweepingmaterial and handle, with-the exposed portion of said stapling snugagainst the exterior surface of said sheath so that the adjacent portion of: greater thickness guards said stapling from contact with other objects, and stapling extending through the smaller end of the: tapered sheath ii1t0 saidhandle connecting the same, whereby a broomis provided in which a handle sweeping material and connecting sheathare secured by stapling and withsuch bro-om having arelatively smooth exterior devoid of furniture marring projections.

Referencest Cited: in thefile=of thisrpatent' UNITED. STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 720,488- Rasenbaum Feb..10;,1903 1,350,520 Rasmussen Aug. 24', 1920 1,749,987 Russell Mar.. 11,1930 2,059,530 Lay Nov. 33,1936 

